Trials Torque: It’s time at last!
By John Dickinson on 26th Apr 17
The most intensive and most famous period in the trials calendar is upon us with the world-famous Scottish Six Days Trial (May 1-6) and which is preceded by the equally popular Pre-65 Two Day.
The Pre-65 is now more popular with spectators than the Six Days with many fans having moved their holidays forward.
Many now take in the Pre-65 at Kinlochleven on Friday-Saturday, take a look at the Six Days weigh-in on Sunday at the Fort William parc ferme and then spectate the opening day at a group of their choice before heading home as it is, of course, Bank Holiday Monday.
The Pre-65 is every bit as popular with competitors as with spectators and this year over 320 hopefuls were looking for one of the 180 places available.
Not everyone can be successful of course, despite every single one having a valid reason why they should have been accepted...
Moving from Kinlochleven to Fort William the focus has changed from the weigh-in to the parade of bikes and riders through Fort William High Street which, with 280 competitors, is quite a spectacle and the foreign visitors in particular really get involved in this.
The morning ‘weigh-in' or scrutineering is just a formality these days, with a simple number painted on engines and frames before the bikes are lined-up in parc ferme.
In former years many more parts were marked on machines including wheels, shocks, forks and fuel tanks and riders carried out many and varied mods on their mounts specially for the Scottish.
It is a simple fact that 99.9 per cent of the bikes are now box standard with the smart riders having simply prepped them carefully and sensibly for the hard week ahead.
The number one cause of retirements these days is engines overheating due to blocked radiators.
Rads get blocked during the moorland runs and, if riders ignore the blockage, the engines cook themselves while being ridden down the roads.
This is the consequence of trials bike development as the sport has become more and more specialised and they are no longer based on road models.
They are brilliant in the sections but have to be nursed in between.For all the change, the Scottish is without doubt THE trial to ride.
It remains unique, with long days in the saddle taking in 30 sections per day connected by long road, track and open moorland routes.
Simply to finish the Scottish is many a Clubman's dream. And next week 280 riders will be striving to do just that...
